CINCINNATI  One of Cincinnatis largest employers fired approximately 150 employees Wednesday for failing to get a required flu shot.

TriHealth offered all of its 10,800 employees free flu shots. Employees had a month to get the flu shot. The deadline was Nov. 16. Employees who did not get the shot were terminated Wednesday, a company spokesperson said...

If you KNOW it is a requirement going in, as with the military; fine. But springing it on people after they have been employed five, ten, twenty-five years; then only allowing them a short time to find other employment in this economic climate is unforgivable.

55
posted on 11/24/2012 2:30:28 PM PST
by who knows what evil?
(G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)

In 1918, 27% of the world’s population contracted the Spanish Flu. 3% of the world’s population, or 50 million people, died from it. Life ground to a halt. The economy stalled to a virtual standstill. Healthcare providers were among the hardest hit, as well as among the disease’s most prolific vectors. That was the result of pandemic when rail and ship were the fastest forms of transportation.

Now, extrapolate that forward to 2012, with ubiquitous air travel connecting all parts of the globe, and a much larger population, concentrated in much larger cities. A new pandemic would spread faster, and could potentially kill hundreds of millions, or even billions of people.

Unlike in 1918, such a pandemic might not just emerge from random mutation, but might be intentionally created as a terrorist weapon. Given the potentially devastating consequences, it is not unreasonable to make a flu vaccine a requirement for healthcare professionals, just like it is not unreasonable to make it a requirement of military service.

In Colorado it’s now state law. All healthcare workers will get the flu vac or have their privileges suspended during flu season the only exemption is a documented allergic reaction. While I’m first in line to get the flu vacc every year (had Hong Kong flu as teenager never want to be that sick again) the libertarian side of me made me want to challenge the system. Unfortunately I need to put the kids thru college..... But one more reason I’m out of the doctoring business as soon as the youngest graduates. 2 1/2 yrs but who is counting?

BTW - has anyone noticed the article does not mention anything about those fired being healthcare providers. They are mentioned as “employees”,,could be janitors and secretaries,,who knows? Also NOT MENTIONED is any link to any piece of literature showing that healthcare workers who do NOT get a vaccine somehow cause a significant health issue or have caused a significant issue to patients. ...where is that proof? Unbelievable what some people will accept to have a job. Guess if I’m the employer, I own your aZZ, LITERALLY and physically. It’s NOT right.

Just for grins; I have checked under ‘career opportunities’ at the websites of hospitals around the country...not ONE mentions that a flu shot is a condition of employment. Shouldn’t potential employees be made aware of that before the application process begins?

66
posted on 11/24/2012 2:47:53 PM PST
by who knows what evil?
(G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)

Given that Baxter, a flu vaccine manufacturer, was caught ‘accidentally’ putting the live bird flu virus IN the vaccines for bird flu it would seem your logic might be a bit off? Plus, most manufacturers are now moving vaccine lines to China and India. China would never adulterate any of the consumer goods it sells. Never.

Healthcare workers are well aware of the special requirements their field has. They know its a requirement.

Exactly. In addition to influenza shots, it is also advisable if not required by many hospitals and clinics that healthcare workers get vaccinated for Hepatitis, Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, Varicella, TB, Pertussis, Typhoid Fever, and Vaccinia. This is not only for the protection of patients but for the protection of the healthcare workers themselves and to maintain a healthy healthcare workforce in the event of an outbreak of any of those diseases. And imagine what would happen if you go to the hospital for life saving surgery and half of the staff is out sick with the flu or something even worse. Imagine a sick healthcare worker spreading the flu or Hep or Measles, Mumps, Rubella, imagine a unimmunized nurse or nurses aid sick with Rubella working in a high risk maternity ward, someone with Pertussis working in the childrens ward or someone with TB working in the cafeteria.

They are mentioned as employees,,could be janitors and secretaries,,who knows? Also NOT MENTIONED is any link to any piece of literature showing that healthcare workers who do NOT get a vaccine somehow cause a significant health issue or have caused a significant issue to patients. ...where is that proof?

There isn't any. IT personnel, paper pushers, etc...even in 'off-site' locations are forced to SUBMIT (if they want to keep working...if you are one of the paycheck to paycheck crowd, too bad). In Red Hampshire; if you work for Pepsi (or Coke), and have to service a machine at a RH hospital; you MUST have a flu shot. They are considered 'contractors', and must be immunized.

73
posted on 11/24/2012 3:01:43 PM PST
by who knows what evil?
(G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)

The CDC has a list of recommendations, what immunizations for healthcare workers are strongly advised, but the actual requirements for healthcare workers are regulated by each States departments of health. Here is New Yorks for instance:

If employees dont like the terms of the contract they are free to vote with their feet and find another job.

Let's try this one more time for the reading impaired...there are people in this country who have been given little choice in the matter...working for many years; when out of the blue; they are given 30-60 day warnings that they MUST now submit to a flu shot or be terminated. How would YOU like to be put into a position where you must leave your employer to seek out another job with short notice in THIS economy? Sorry...it's an outrage. If they had been told when the offer of employment was made, fine. That was NOT the case in these 'mandated' flu shot scenarios.

86
posted on 11/24/2012 3:42:37 PM PST
by who knows what evil?
(G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)

Potential employees should be told UP FRONT that they will be forced to submit to vaccination as a condition of employment...that was NOT the case in many of these ‘forced terminations’ that are now popping up around the country.

94
posted on 11/24/2012 3:52:13 PM PST
by who knows what evil?
(G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)

I think that many if not most hospitals are following suit. Hospital workers are exposed to all kinds of germs and can expose others as well. The hospital that I work in has made flu shots mandatory starting this year. I’ve received a flu shot for the past 4-5 years with no side effects or flu.

When many of these people were hired years and years ago; they were NOT told that they would have to submit to forced vaccinations...never. Now, after years of employment; they are told to hit the road if they refuse a potentially dangerous flu shot? One month in this economy is NOT adequate warning. Now that the word is out, many people ARE moving on to other professions.

Good for them.

97
posted on 11/24/2012 3:58:41 PM PST
by who knows what evil?
(G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)

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